Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-31

Y,
enough, on the way met the doctor who
had been called in. He was a dull, heavy
sort of person, considerably given to
beer drinking, and my opinion of his abil-
ity was not. great.
However, I questioned him on the SUBJ
ject, and he replied:
"Well, you see, don't say the old wo-
man murdered him. If she did, I should
say it was by sitting on him, or smother
ing him with the holsters. I suppose the
cause of his death was asphyxia. Well,
then, what is asphyxia? Why, too little
breath to keep one living. He died be-
cause he was short of breath. wash my
hands of that matter. Only there's the
watch; that looks dark"
I had learned nothing from the doctor.
The coroner lived near me. His jury had
been twelve of the most ignorant men in
town.
This is all he told me:
'He was smothered, that man was so
were the other two. Men don't smother
themselves. We made it inscruta6ie
Providence t'other time. We made it
murder this time. That there watch you
know.
Thus without any new light, / went
home and formed my plans. There was
but one way in which to penetrate the
mystery. I must enter the house; must
see people there; must penetrate to the
room in which these men died so sudden.
ly, and I must not be known in my real
character. That Madame Matteau was
ho1s hy,f
one beneath her roof was guilty made no
doubt. It might be the librarian, Mr..
Eastwood, whose key fitted the dead
mans door. It was possible-but no, L
would not harbor mad superstition.
There could be no supernatural power be-
meath which human beings dropped and
died. Death as it came to US was mysteri-
Gus enough. What had been said to me
by a woman, who would have been
Spiritualist had she lived, was an absurdl-
"I believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room," she had said
some awful, shapeless spirit, that when it
is locked in with its victim, murders him.
Let others believe what they will, be-
lieve that"
The words haunted me, but laughed at
them, of course. Whatever it was, l would
try to know.
At dusk that day I went into my bed
room myself. came out a strange man.
7 wore white wig, pair OF green gog-
giles, and an overcoat, the tail OF which
reached to my heels. I had a muller
about my throat, and little haunch on
one of my shoulders. 1 carried thick
cane, and stopped great deal as walked.
In my hand I carried a carpet-bag, and IN
my bosom pair of pistols well loaded.
AS I passed out into the street the early
moon was just rising she lit me on my
Way to Madame Matteau's house.
It was opened for me, when knocked,
by old Hannah. Her eyes &ere red and
swollen. Then I told her that was a
stranger, and had received Madame Mat
teau's address from gentleman in New
York, and desired to stay under her roof
all night.
She shook her head, saying
81 don't think you can. The lady is
away from home. Besides we are in
trouble here. Idon't think Miss Gabrielle
would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herselfappeared.
II am an old man, Miss" said, "and
as you see, quite infirm. I dread another
step. should take it as kindness if you
would accommodate me, and l will pay
you any price you ask"
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
"We have only one room," she SAID,
"and that"
ended the question of my stay by beg
ging to be taken to it.
"You will have supper, sir ?" asked the
girl.
But I declared that I had eaten, and only
wanted rest.
Her reply was:
"Hannah, show the gentleman to the
blue room, and make fire."
I was in the blue room, the scene of
the three sudden deaths or murders. 1t
was small apartment painted blue: 1t
had also blue window curtains, and a blue
silk coverlet on the bed, neat striped
carpet, set of old mahogany furniture,
and very handsome set of costly china.
1t was at the time almost the universal
custom to burn wood. In this room, how
ever, was small coal fire, alluded to
this as Hannah came in with the scuttle.
Goals. Her son is clerk or the like, at
the new mines at Mauch Chunk, and he
sends it cheap to her; but its nasty dirty
smelling thing and T hate it. Now it's
built and lit; twill warm up in fifteen
minutes. It takes longer than wood"
She went out of the door and came back
in a minute with little tray on which
stood pot and cup and saucer, and also
a bowl and tiny pitcher and something in
napkin.
"Miss sent bit and sip," said she,
"Tea rests US old folks nightly. Good
aGood night,"I said, 81 expect shall
sleep soon. must be up very early,
though, for have bills to pay. have
some hundreds of dollars with me to pay
out tomorrow, and its in this bag"
She looked at me in a queer sort OF
a way, and fingered beside me. At last
she spoke.
"Look We, sir; think that old folks of
your age do wrong to lock doors on them
Selves. You might be ill at night, and
who'd get in to you? Leave your door
unlocked"
Was it this woman's practice to beg
travellers who stopped with her mistress
not to lock the door? Was there some
baneful potion in the cup she had given
me?
It was an innocent-looking cup enough
an old-fashiOned affair covered with little
sprigs. The tea was fragrant Hyson but
the Suspicion that had crept into my mind
had tainted it. fancied a queer color,
a curious smell. I put it from me, and
would not have tasted it for kingdom.
I had not intended to sleep, and did not
undress myself. 1 merely removed my
disguise and sat down beside the table,
with my pistols beside me. That some
attempt might be shortly made to murder
me felt to be possible. I thought of all
the old tales that had heard oftrap doors
and sliding panels, and secret entrances to
travellers rooms. I was not coward,
but felt strangely nervous; and singu-
larly enough for a man of my perfect
health my hands were growing cold, and